Recent studies show that consumers taking the commonly prescribed quinolone antibiotics are at a five-times greater risk of developing an eye emergency.

Researchers have discovered that common quinolones such as Cipro, Levaquin, and Avelox can cause retinal detachment which is a painful eye condition that occurs when light-sensitive tissue separates from the gel that fills the eyeball.

Canadian medical researchers studied nearly 1 million patients who saw an ophthalmologist over the course of a seven-year period. According to prescription records, they found that one in 30 patients diagnosed with detached retina was taking a quinolone at the time that the eye injury occurred.

Researchers further discovered that retinal detachment patients were most commonly prescribed the fluoroquinolone Ciprofloxacin, or Cipro.

The medical study could not determine with certainty the reason why patients on quinolone medications are more likely to get an eye disorder but claim it may be that the drug damages connective tissues and fibers that attach the retina to the eye gel.

What is Detached Retina?

Retinal detachment is a rare but extremely serious eye condition that may cause permanent blindness if left untreated. Patients may notice dots, lines or floaters in their vision which are symptoms of detached retina.

Other likely causes of retinal detachment unrelated to quinolone drugs are nearsightedness, eye infections, cataract surgery and individuals with tendon issues. 

Quinolone consumers who notice any signs of retinal detachment are urged to seek medical help immediately in order to avoid permanent damage.

Quinolone Antibiotics

More than 20 million patients are prescribed a quinolone antibiotic in order to treat various medical conditions including ear infections, sinus infections, urinary tract infections and other bacterial infections.

Besides Cipro, Levaquin and Avelox, other quinolone antibiotics are marketed under the following names:

• Trovafloxacin (Trovan)
• Sparfloxacin (Zagam)
• Ofloxacin (Floxin)
• Lomefloxacin (Maxaquin)
• Norfloxacin (Chibroxin Ophthalmic)
• Gemifloxacin (Factive)

Quinolone Eye Conditions

Detached retina is just one of the eye diseases now being linked to the quinolone antibiotics. Other studies have found that fluoroquinolones also contain a higher risk for developing uveitis and pigment dispersion syndrome.

Uveitis is the third leading cause of blindness in the United States and affects roughly 300,000 patients each year. It occurs when the pigmented middle layer of the eye (uvea) gets inflamed. Uveitis symptoms include: eye redness, blurred vision, eye pain, floaters, eye irritation and light sensitivity.

Pigment dispersion syndrome is another eye disease associated with quinolone consumption. It occurs when the pigment color of the eye moves from the iris to other parts of the eye. Pigment dispersion syndrome symptoms include: seeing colored halos around lights, eye pain and blurred vision. If left untreated, the eye disease could lead to pigmentary glaucoma.